Dhaka, Aug 9 (FN Agency) Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen attended the ASEAN Day Celebration as the Chief Guest at the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday on the auspicious occasion of the 56th ASEAN DAY. The Ambassadors, High Commissioners and other level representatives from ASEAN Member States and other countries were present at the event. Foreign Minister presented the keynote address at the ceremony while, the Ambassador of the Philippines and Chair of the ASEAN Dhaka Committee (ADC) H.E. Leo Tito L. Ausan, Jr. as well as the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Heru Hartanto Subolo made remarks at the programme.In his remarks, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen extended warmest greetings and felicitations to all ASEAN member states and their peoples, on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh. He said, ASEAN represents a region of great diversity, rich culture, and profound historical significance and it has been a beacon of regional cooperation, fostering peace, stability, and economic progress for more than five decades.
He also said, Bangladesh highly values the ASEAN community and the constructive role it plays in the global arena. Foreign Minister stressed the importance of unity and solidarity in the face of global challenges such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and economic recovery. He acknowledged the strong and effective commitment of ASEAN for strengthening regionalism and multilateralism to resolve common challenges. He also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to work hand in hand with the ASEAN Member States to achieve shared goals. He said, the foundation of ASEAN’s success lies in its adherence to the principles of mutual respect, non-interference, and consensus-building. These values resonate with Bangladesh, as they align with our own principles of peaceful coexistence and respectful engagement with the international community. The Foreign Minister emphasised the immense potential for cooperation between Bangladesh and ASEAN. He recognized the importance of strengthening ties in trade, investment, technology, and human capital development.
He said, the collective market of ASEAN holds significant promise for Bangladesh’s economic growth, and we are eager to explore opportunities for increased collaboration in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, blue economy and renewable energy. He commended ASEAN’s commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue. Bangladesh firmly believes that peaceful resolution of conflicts is the key to fostering greater understanding and cooperation between nations. Dr. Momen also mentioned about Bangladesh’s recently announced “Indo-Pacific Outlook” (IPO) emphasizing on the peace centric foreign policy of Bangladesh, based on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s dictum ‘Friendship to all, Malice towards none’. Foreign Minister urged the ASEAN Member States to provide active support to Bangladesh’s candidacy for obtaining Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) of ASEAN status without delay.